(a) No person shall utilize a personal watercraft to tow a person or persons on water skis or other water sport devices unless the personal watercraft has an observer on board, at least twelve (12) years of age, who can constantly observe the person or persons being towed, or it is equipped with rearview mirrors meeting the specifications established by statute or regulation of the commission.

Attorney's Note

Under the Tennessee Code, punishments for crimes depend on the classification. In the case of this section:
ClassPrisonFine
class A misdemeanorup to 11 monthsup to $2,500
For details, see Tenn. Code § 40-35-111

Terms Used In Tennessee Code 69-9-507

  • Commission: means the fish and wildlife commission. See Tennessee Code 69-9-204
  • Operator: means the person who operates or has charge of the navigation or use of a motorboat or vessel. See Tennessee Code 69-9-204
  • Person: means an individual, partnership, firm, corporation, association, or other entity. See Tennessee Code 69-9-204
  • personal watercraft: means a mechanically propelled vessel that is designed to be operated by a person sitting, standing or kneeling on the vessel rather than being operated in a conventional manner by a person sitting, standing, or kneeling inside the vessel. See Tennessee Code 69-9-501
  • Statute: A law passed by a legislature.
(b) The specifications for rearview mirrors on personal watercraft used for towing any person shall be as follows: Each mirror shall contain a minimum viewing size of sixty-five (65) square centimeters (10 sq. in.), a minimum viewing area height of sixty-four (64) millimeters (2.5 in.), and minimum viewing area width of one hundred (100) millimeters (4.0 in.). The mirrors shall be mounted or attached on both the right and left sides of the personal watercraft so as to provide the maximum rearward observation by the operator. Mirrors shall not be mounted or attached to the steering mechanism of the personal watercraft. The minimum combined viewing area of both mirrors shall be one hundred thirty (130) square centimeters (20 sq. in.).
(c) It is a Class A misdemeanor to tow any person by personal watercraft unless the watercraft meets all of these specifications.
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